Justice Yashwant Varma Denies Allegations of Cash Recovery, Calls Charges ‘Preposterous’

New Delhi: Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma has submitted a detailed response regarding the alleged recovery of cash from his residence, firmly denying the accusations and emphasizing that the room in question is separate from his main residence and is accessible to multiple individuals.

In his statement, Justice Varma clarified that the room “was generally utilised by all and sundry to store items such as unused furniture, bottles, crockery, mattresses, used carpets, old speakers, garden implements, and CPWD (Central Public Works Department) material.” He further explained, “This room is unlocked and accessible from both the official front gate and the back door of the staff quarters. It is disconnected from the main residence and is certainly not a room in my house, as has been portrayed.”

Providing further context, he recounted an incident on March 14, the night of Holi, when a fire broke out in the storeroom near the staff quarters. He stated, “When the fire broke out around midnight, the fire service was alerted by my daughter and my private secretary, and their calls would be duly recorded. During the effort to douse the fire, all staff and members of my household were asked to move away from the scene of the incident due to safety concerns. After the fire was extinguished and they returned to the scene, no cash or currency was found on site.”

Firm Denial of Allegations

In his submission to the Delhi High Court, Justice Varma categorically denied that any cash was ever placed in the storeroom by him or his family. Dismissing the allegations as “incredible and incredulous,” he stated, “I state unequivocally that no cash was ever placed in that storeroom either by me or any of my family members and strongly denounce the suggestion that the alleged cash belonged to us. The very idea or suggestion that this cash was kept or stored by us is totally preposterous. The suggestion that one would store cash in an open, freely accessible, and commonly used storeroom near the staff quarters or in an outhouse verges on the incredible and incredulous.”

Appeal for Vindication

Calling the allegations “unfounded and baseless,” Justice Varma has urged the Delhi High Court Chief Justice to clear his name. He underscored the profound impact of such accusations on a judge’s integrity, stating, “Nothing is more important in a judge’s life than their reputation and character. That has been severely tarnished and irreparably damaged. The baseless allegations that have been leveled against me have proceeded on mere innuendos and an unproven assumption that the cash allegedly seen and found belonged to me.”

Judicial Inquiry Initiated

In response to the controversy, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has constituted a three-member panel to probe the allegations regarding the alleged cash recovery from Justice Varma’s residence. The investigation is expected to provide clarity on the matter and determine the veracity of the claims.